Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 1.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sierra Leone, 1970–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sierra Leone is 1.7%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 23.2% on the previous year and down 64.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sierra Leone peaked at 19.6% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -28.6%, in 1986.
Sierra Leone ranks 114th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.9% | — |
| 1971 | 1.2% | -34.3% |
| 1972 | 0.8% | -34.1% |
| 1973 | 1.1% | +32.9% |
| 1974 | 1.6% | +49.2% |
| 1975 | 1.5% | -8.2% |
| 1976 | 1.4% | -3.9% |
| 1977 | 0.7% | -48.8% |
| 1978 | 2.5% | +245.3% |
| 1979 | 1.4% | -42.6% |
| 1980 | -1.7% | -217.0% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | -139.7% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | -46.3% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | -52.8% |
| 1984 | 0.5% | +215.7% |
| 1985 | -3.6% | -770.8% |
| 1986 | -28.6% | +692.3% |
| 1987 | 6.0% | -120.9% |
| 1988 | -2.2% | -136.7% |
| 1989 | 2.4% | -209.5% |
| 1990 | 5.0% | +108.4% |
| 1991 | 1.0% | -80.7% |
| 1992 | -0.8% | -185.6% |
| 1993 | -1.0% | +17.9% |
| 1994 | -0.3% | -67.5% |
| 1995 | 0.8% | -365.5% |
| 1996 | 0.1% | -91.6% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | +200.3% |
| 1998 | 0.0% | -92.6% |
| 1999 | 0.1% | +410.6% |
| 2000 | 6.1% | +7600.0% |
| 2001 | 0.6% | -90.5% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -7.9% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | -25.3% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | +579.8% |
| 2005 | 3.6% | +30.4% |
| 2006 | 1.8% | -49.4% |
| 2007 | 2.6% | +45.7% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | -51.4% |
| 2009 | 2.8% | +118.7% |
| 2010 | 5.6% | +100.2% |
| 2011 | 19.6% | +249.6% |
| 2012 | 11.8% | -39.8% |
| 2013 | 5.7% | -51.3% |
| 2014 | 4.9% | -14.8% |
| 2015 | 3.7% | -23.8% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -38.8% |
| 2017 | 7.2% | +216.1% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | -59.6% |
| 2019 | 1.9% | -35.7% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | -59.2% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | +291.6% |
| 2022 | 2.0% | -31.8% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | +11.7% |
| 2024 | 1.7% | -23.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.4% | 0.7% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.6% | -28.6% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | -1.0% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 0.4% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.5% | 1.9% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 0.8% | 3.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More economy & growth data for Sierra Leone
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.55 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.53 Percent per annum (2029)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 29.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 4.73 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 4,006 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 8.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.3957 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 334.9 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 27.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.232 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sierra Leone?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sierra Leone was 1.7% in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 19.6% in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -28.6% in 1986.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Sierra Leone ranks 114th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.